US20230097359A1 - Aerosol-generating device for detecting insertion of aerosol-generating article and method of operating the same - Google Patents

Aerosol-generating device for detecting insertion of aerosol-generating article and method of operating the same Download PDF

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Publication number
US20230097359A1
US20230097359A1 US17/801,171 US202117801171A US2023097359A1 US 20230097359 A1 US20230097359 A1 US 20230097359A1 US 202117801171 A US202117801171 A US 202117801171A US 2023097359 A1 US2023097359 A1 US 2023097359A1
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United States
Prior art keywords
aerosol
generating device
generating article
generating
susceptor
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US17/801,171
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English (en)
Inventor
Yong Hwan Kim
Sung Wook Yoon
Seok Su JANG
Dae Nam HAN
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KT&G Corp
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KT&G Corp
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Assigned to KT&G CORPORATION reassignment KT&G CORPORATION ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: HAN, Dae Nam, JANG, SEOK SU, KIM, YONG HWAN, LEE, SEUNG WON, YOON, SUNG WOOK
Publication of US20230097359A1 publication Critical patent/US20230097359A1/en
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    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
    • A24F—SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES
    • A24F40/00—Electrically operated smoking devices; Component parts thereof; Manufacture thereof; Maintenance or testing thereof; Charging means specially adapted therefor
    • A24F40/50—Control or monitoring
    • A24F40/53—Monitoring, e.g. fault detection
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
    • A24F—SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES
    • A24F40/00—Electrically operated smoking devices; Component parts thereof; Manufacture thereof; Maintenance or testing thereof; Charging means specially adapted therefor
    • A24F40/50—Control or monitoring
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H05B—ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
    • H05B6/00—Heating by electric, magnetic or electromagnetic fields
    • H05B6/02—Induction heating
    • H05B6/06—Control, e.g. of temperature, of power
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
    • A24F—SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES
    • A24F40/00—Electrically operated smoking devices; Component parts thereof; Manufacture thereof; Maintenance or testing thereof; Charging means specially adapted therefor
    • A24F40/20—Devices using solid inhalable precursors
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
    • A24F—SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES
    • A24F40/00—Electrically operated smoking devices; Component parts thereof; Manufacture thereof; Maintenance or testing thereof; Charging means specially adapted therefor
    • A24F40/40—Constructional details, e.g. connection of cartridges and battery parts
    • A24F40/46—Shape or structure of electric heating means
    • A24F40/465—Shape or structure of electric heating means specially adapted for induction heating
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
    • A24F—SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES
    • A24F40/00—Electrically operated smoking devices; Component parts thereof; Manufacture thereof; Maintenance or testing thereof; Charging means specially adapted therefor
    • A24F40/50—Control or monitoring
    • A24F40/51—Arrangement of sensors
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
    • A24F—SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES
    • A24F40/00—Electrically operated smoking devices; Component parts thereof; Manufacture thereof; Maintenance or testing thereof; Charging means specially adapted therefor
    • A24F40/50—Control or monitoring
    • A24F40/57—Temperature control
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
    • A24F—SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES
    • A24F40/00—Electrically operated smoking devices; Component parts thereof; Manufacture thereof; Maintenance or testing thereof; Charging means specially adapted therefor
    • A24F40/60—Devices with integrated user interfaces
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01D—MEASURING NOT SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR A SPECIFIC VARIABLE; ARRANGEMENTS FOR MEASURING TWO OR MORE VARIABLES NOT COVERED IN A SINGLE OTHER SUBCLASS; TARIFF METERING APPARATUS; MEASURING OR TESTING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G01D5/00—Mechanical means for transferring the output of a sensing member; Means for converting the output of a sensing member to another variable where the form or nature of the sensing member does not constrain the means for converting; Transducers not specially adapted for a specific variable
    • G01D5/12—Mechanical means for transferring the output of a sensing member; Means for converting the output of a sensing member to another variable where the form or nature of the sensing member does not constrain the means for converting; Transducers not specially adapted for a specific variable using electric or magnetic means
    • G01D5/14—Mechanical means for transferring the output of a sensing member; Means for converting the output of a sensing member to another variable where the form or nature of the sensing member does not constrain the means for converting; Transducers not specially adapted for a specific variable using electric or magnetic means influencing the magnitude of a current or voltage
    • G01D5/20—Mechanical means for transferring the output of a sensing member; Means for converting the output of a sensing member to another variable where the form or nature of the sensing member does not constrain the means for converting; Transducers not specially adapted for a specific variable using electric or magnetic means influencing the magnitude of a current or voltage by varying inductance, e.g. by a movable armature
    • G01D5/2006—Mechanical means for transferring the output of a sensing member; Means for converting the output of a sensing member to another variable where the form or nature of the sensing member does not constrain the means for converting; Transducers not specially adapted for a specific variable using electric or magnetic means influencing the magnitude of a current or voltage by varying inductance, e.g. by a movable armature by influencing the self-induction of one or more coils
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01R—MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES
    • G01R27/00—Arrangements for measuring resistance, reactance, impedance, or electric characteristics derived therefrom
    • G01R27/02—Measuring real or complex resistance, reactance, impedance, or other two-pole characteristics derived therefrom, e.g. time constant
    • G01R27/26—Measuring inductance or capacitance; Measuring quality factor, e.g. by using the resonance method; Measuring loss factor; Measuring dielectric constants ; Measuring impedance or related variables
    • G01R27/2611—Measuring inductance
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H05B—ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
    • H05B1/00—Details of electric heating devices
    • H05B1/02—Automatic switching arrangements specially adapted to apparatus ; Control of heating devices
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H05B—ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
    • H05B6/00—Heating by electric, magnetic or electromagnetic fields
    • H05B6/02—Induction heating
    • H05B6/10—Induction heating apparatus, other than furnaces, for specific applications
    • H05B6/105—Induction heating apparatus, other than furnaces, for specific applications using a susceptor
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H05B—ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
    • H05B6/00—Heating by electric, magnetic or electromagnetic fields
    • H05B6/02—Induction heating
    • H05B6/36—Coil arrangements

Definitions

  • the present disclosure relates to an aerosol-generating device that detects whether or not an aerosol-generating article is inserted and a method of operating the aerosol-generating device.
  • an unintended heating operation of the aerosol-generating device needs to be prevented.
  • the aerosol-generating article is not inserted into an accommodation space of the aerosol-generating device, the user does not intend to use the aerosol-generating device, and thus, a heating operation of the aerosol-generating device has to be prevented. Therefore, in order to reliably prevent an unintended heating operation of the aerosol-generating device, it is necessary to accurately determine whether or not the aerosol-generating article is inserted into the accommodation space of the aerosol-generating device.
  • Various embodiments provide aerosol-generating devices that detect whether or not an aerosol-generating article is inserted and methods of operating the aerosol-generating devices.
  • Technical problems to be solved by the present disclosure is not limited to the technical problems described above, and other technical problems may be inferred from the following embodiments.
  • an aerosol-generating device includes an inductive sensor that detects a change in inductance, an induction coil configured to generate a time-varying magnetic field by a current; a susceptor configured to heat an aerosol-generating article inserted into an accommodation space of the aerosol-generating device according to the time-varying magnetic field; and a controller configured to: determine whether the aerosol-generating article is inserted into the accommodation space based on the change in inductance detected by the inductive sensor, start heating the susceptor by applying the current to the induction coil based on determining that the aerosol-generating article is inserted into the accommodation space, measure a frequency response of a coupling circuit formed in response to the current being applied to the induction coil, and determine whether to continue to heat the susceptor based on the measured frequency response.
  • the present disclosure may provide an aerosol-generating device that detects whether or not an aerosol-generating article is inserted and a method of operating the aerosol-generating device.
  • the aerosol-generating device according to the present disclosure may determine whether an aerosol-generating article is inserted into an accommodation space of the aerosol-generating device based on a change in inductance detected by an inductive sensor.
  • the aerosol-generating device may start heating a susceptor by applying a current to an induction coil. That is, the aerosol-generating device according to the present disclosure may start a heating operation immediately after insertion of the aerosol-generating article is detected through a primary determination process using the inductive sensor. Accordingly, the susceptor may be quickly heated to a temperature at which an aerosol is generated from the aerosol-generating article. As a result, the reactivity of the aerosol-generating device may be increased.
  • the aerosol-generating device may measure a frequency response of a coupling circuit formed in response to a current being applied to the induction coil and determine whether to continue to heat the susceptor based on the measured frequency response. As such, the aerosol-generating device may double check whether the aerosol-generating article is inserted into the accommodation space through a secondary determination process using the frequency response of the coupling circuit. The aerosol-generating device may stop the heating operation when it is determined that the aerosol-generating article is not inserted as a result of the secondary determination process. Even when there is an error in the primary determination process, an unintended heating operation of the aerosol-generating device may be prevented through a secondary determination process, thereby improving safety of the aerosol-generating device.
  • the aerosol-generating device may identify the type of aerosol-generating article in each of the primary determination process and the secondary determination process. Accordingly, even when the aerosol-generating article is inserted into the accommodation space of the aerosol-generating device, in a case where the inserted aerosol-generating article is not a dedicated aerosol-generating article, the heating operation of the aerosol-generating device may be prevented.
  • FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an aerosol-generating system according to an example embodiment.
  • FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an aerosol-generating device according to an example embodiment.
  • FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a process of measuring a frequency response by using an aerosol-generating device according to an example embodiment.
  • FIGS. 4 and 5 are diagrams illustrating a method of determining whether an aerosol-generating article is inserted and identifying the type of aerosol-generating article based on a frequency response by using an aerosol-generating device according to an example embodiment.
  • FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a method of operating an aerosol-generating device, according to an example embodiment.
  • an aerosol-generating device includes an inductive sensor configured to detect a change in inductance; an induction coil configured to generate a time-varying magnetic field by a current; a susceptor configured to heat an aerosol-generating article inserted into an accommodation space of the aerosol-generating device according to the time-varying magnetic field; and a controller configured to: determine whether the aerosol-generating article is inserted into the accommodation space based on the change in inductance detected by the inductive sensor, start heating the susceptor by applying the current to the induction coil based on determining that the aerosol-generating article is inserted into the accommodation space, measure a frequency response of a coupling circuit formed in response to the current being applied to the induction coil, and determine whether to continue to heat the susceptor based on the measured frequency response.
  • the controller may determine that the aerosol-generating article is inserted into the accommodation space based on the change in inductance detected by the inductive sensor exceeding a threshold.
  • the threshold may be preset based on a type of the aerosol-generating article.
  • the aerosol-generating device may further include a battery configured to supply power to the induction coil, wherein the controller may measure a change in the current while changing a driving frequency of the battery within a preset frequency scan range, and determine whether to continue to heat the susceptor based on the change in the current.
  • the controller may stop heating the susceptor based on a difference between a first frequency response corresponding to the change in the current and a second frequency response that does not reflect the change in the current being within an error range, and continue to heat the susceptor based on the difference exceeding the error range.
  • the second frequency response may correspond to a frequency response measured while the aerosol-generating article is not inserted into the accommodation space and may be previously stored in the aerosol-generating device.
  • the controller may determine a resonance frequency of the coupling circuit based on the change in the current and may identify a type of the aerosol-generating article based on the determined resonance frequency.
  • the controller may stop heating the susceptor based on the identified type of the aerosol-generating article being different from a type of aerosol-generating article stored in the aerosol-generating device.
  • the aerosol-generating device may further include a user interface which outputs a notification that a dedicated aerosol-generating article has to be inserted into the accommodation space, based on the identified type of aerosol-generating article being different from the type of aerosol-generating article stored in the aerosol-generating device.
  • the aerosol-generating device may further include a user interface which outputs a notification that a dedicated aerosol-generating article has to be inserted into the accommodation space, based on the change in inductance detected by the inductive sensor not exceeding a threshold.
  • a method of operating an aerosol-generating device includes determining whether the aerosol-generating article is inserted into an accommodation space of the aerosol-generating device based on a change in inductance detected by an inductive sensor, applying a current to an induction coil to start heating a susceptor based on determining that the aerosol-generating article is inserted into the accommodation space, measuring a frequency response of a coupling circuit formed in response to the current being applied to the induction coil, and determining whether to continue to heat the susceptor based on the measured frequency response.
  • the expression, “at least one of a, b, and c,” should be understood as including only a, only b, only c, both a and b, both a and c, both b and c, or all of a, b, and c.
  • cigarette may refer to any article which has a shape similar to a traditional combustive cigarette.
  • This cigarette may contain an aerosol generating material that generates aerosols by operation (e.g., heating) of an aerosol generating device.
  • the cigarette may not include an aerosol generating material but delivers an aerosol generated from another article (e.g., cartridge) installed in the aerosol generating device.
  • FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an aerosol-generating system according to an example embodiment.
  • an aerosol-generating system may include an aerosol-generating device 10 and an aerosol-generating article 15 .
  • the aerosol-generating device 10 may include an accommodation space into which the aerosol-generating article 15 is inserted and may generate an aerosol by heating the aerosol-generating article 15 inserted into the accommodation space.
  • the aerosol-generating article 15 may correspond to a cigarette but is not limited thereto.
  • the aerosol-generating article 15 may include any article as long as the article includes an aerosol-generating material.
  • the aerosol-generating device 10 may include a battery 110 , a controller 120 , a susceptor 130 , an induction coil 140 , and an inductive sensor 150 .
  • an internal structure of the aerosol-generating device 10 is not limited to the structure illustrated in FIG. 1 .
  • Those skilled in the art relating to the present embodiment will appreciate that some of the hardware configurations illustrated in FIG. 1 may be omitted or a new configuration may be added thereto depending on design of the aerosol-generating device 10 .
  • the battery 110 may supply power used to operate the aerosol-generating device 10 .
  • the battery 110 may supply power such that the induction coil 140 generates a time-varying magnetic field.
  • the battery 110 may supply power required for operations of other hardware components included in the aerosol-generating device 10 , such as various sensors, a user interface, a memory, and the controller 120 .
  • the battery 110 may include a rechargeable battery or a disposable battery.
  • the battery 110 may include a lithium polymer (LiPoly) battery but is not limited thereto.
  • the controller 120 controls the overall operation of the aerosol-generating device 10 .
  • the controller 120 may control operation of the battery 110 , the susceptor 130 , the induction coil 140 , and the inductive sensor 150 as well as other components included in the aerosol-generating device 10 .
  • the controller 120 may also determine whether the aerosol-generating device 10 is in an operable state by checking states of the respective components of the aerosol-generating device 10 .
  • the controller 120 may include at least one processor.
  • the processor may also include an array of a plurality of logic gates or may include a combination of a microprocessor and a memory for storing a program that may be executed by the microprocessor.
  • the processor may include other types of hardware.
  • the susceptor 130 may include a material that is heated when a time-varying magnetic field is applied.
  • the susceptor 130 may include metal or carbon.
  • the susceptor 130 may include at least one of ferrite, ferromagnetic alloy, stainless steel, and aluminum (Al).
  • the susceptor 130 may include at least one of ceramic (e.g., graphite, molybdenum, silicon carbide, niobium, nickel alloy, metal film, or zirconia), a transition metal (e.g., nickel (Ni) or cobalt (Co)), and a metalloid (e.g., boron (B) or phosphorus (P)).
  • ceramic e.g., graphite, molybdenum, silicon carbide, niobium, nickel alloy, metal film, or zirconia
  • a transition metal e.g., nickel (Ni) or cobalt (Co)
  • a metalloid e.g., boron (B) or
  • the susceptor 130 may have a tubular shape or a cylindrical shape and may be arranged to surround the accommodation space into which the aerosol-generating article 15 is inserted into.
  • the susceptor 130 may be arranged to surround the aerosol-generating article 15 . Accordingly, a temperature of the aerosol-generating material in the aerosol-generating article 15 may be increased by heat transferred from the external susceptor 130 .
  • the susceptor 130 illustrated in FIG. 1 is only an example, and the present disclosure is not limited thereto.
  • the susceptor 130 may have a shape other than the tubular shape or the cylindrical shape, and may be inserted into the aerosol-generating article 15 when the aerosol-generating article 15 is placed in the accommodation space.
  • the susceptor may be arranged inside the aerosol-generating article 15 . In this case, the temperature of the aerosol-generating material in the aerosol-generating article 15 may be increased by heat transferred from the internal susceptor 130 .
  • the induction coil 140 may generate a time-varying magnetic field when power is supplied from the battery 110 .
  • the time-varying magnetic field generated by the induction coil 140 may be applied to the susceptor 130 , and thus, the susceptor 130 may be heated.
  • Power supplied to the induction coil 140 may be adjusted under the control of the controller 120 , so that the temperature at which the susceptor 130 is heated may be properly maintained.
  • the inductive sensor 150 may detect whether the aerosol-generating article 15 is inserted into the accommodation space of the aerosol-generating device 10 .
  • the aerosol-generating article 15 may include a metal material such as aluminum, and the inductive sensor 150 may detect a change in inductance generated as the aerosol-generating article 15 is inserted into the accommodation space.
  • the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the inductive sensor 150 may be replaced with another sensor such as an optical sensor, a temperature sensor, or a resistance sensor.
  • the controller 120 may automatically perform a heating operation without an additional external input.
  • the controller 120 may control the battery 110 to supply power to the induction coil 140 .
  • the susceptor 130 may be heated.
  • the aerosol-generating article 15 adjacent to the susceptor 130 may be heated, thereby generating an aerosol.
  • the controller 120 may perform a heating operation only when there is an additional external input.
  • the inductive sensor 150 may detect whether the aerosol-generating article 15 is inserted only when there is an external input.
  • the aerosol-generating device 10 may further include other components in addition to the battery 110 , the controller 120 , the susceptor 130 , the induction coil 140 , and the inductive sensor 150 .
  • the aerosol-generating device 10 may further include other sensors (for example, a temperature detecting sensor, a puff detecting sensor, and so on), a user interface, and a memory in addition to the inductive sensor 150 .
  • the user interface may provide information on a state of the aerosol-generating device 10 to a user.
  • the user interface may include a display or lamp that outputs visual information, a motor that outputs tactile information, a speaker that outputs sound information, and input/output (I/O) interfacing units (for example, buttons or a touch screen) that receive information input from a user or outputs information to the user.
  • I/O input/output
  • the user interface may include various interfacing units such as terminals for data communication or receiving charging power, and a communication interfacing module (for example, WI-FI, WI-FI Direct, Bluetooth, Bluetooth low energy (BLE), near-field communication (NFC), and so on) for wireless communication with an external device.
  • WI-FI WI-FI Direct
  • Bluetooth Bluetooth low energy
  • NFC near-field communication
  • the aerosol-generating device 10 may selectively include only some of the various user interface examples illustrated above.
  • the aerosol-generating device 10 may include a combination of at least some of the various user interface examples illustrated above.
  • the aerosol-generating device 10 may include a touch screen display capable of receiving user input while outputting visual information on a front side thereof.
  • the touch screen display may include a fingerprint sensor, and user authentication may be performed by the fingerprint sensor.
  • the memory is hardware that stores various types of data processed by the aerosol-generating device 10 , and the memory may store the data processed by the controller 120 and data to be processed.
  • the memory may include various types of memories, for example, random access memory (RAM) such as dynamic RAM (DRAM) or static RAM (SRAM), read-only memory (ROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), and so on.
  • RAM random access memory
  • DRAM dynamic RAM
  • SRAM static RAM
  • ROM read-only memory
  • EEPROM electrically erasable programmable read-only memory
  • the memory may store an operation time of the aerosol-generating device 10 , a maximum number of puffs, a current number of puffs, at least one temperature profile, and data about a user's smoking pattern.
  • FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an aerosol-generating device according to an example embodiment.
  • an aerosol-generating device 20 may include an inductive sensor 210 , a susceptor 220 , an induction coil 230 , and a controller 240 .
  • FIG. 2 illustrates the aerosol-generating device 20 including components relating to the present embodiment. Accordingly, those skilled in the art relating to the present embodiment will appreciate that components other than the components illustrated in FIG. 2 may be further included in the aerosol-generating device 20 .
  • the aerosol-generating device 20 may further include a battery (for example, the battery 110 of FIG. 1 ).
  • the inductive sensor 210 , the susceptor 220 , the induction coil 230 , and the controller 240 of FIG. 2 may correspond respectively to the inductive sensor 150 , the susceptor 130 , the induction coil 140 , and the controller 120 of FIG. 1 . Accordingly, redundant descriptions thereof are omitted.
  • the controller 240 may determine whether an aerosol-generating article is inserted into an accommodation space based on a change in inductance detected by the inductive sensor 210 . For example, when a magnitude of the change in inductance detected by the inductive sensor 210 exceeds a threshold, the controller 240 may determine that the aerosol-generating article is inserted into the accommodation space.
  • the aerosol-generating article may include a material that may be detected by the inductive sensor 210 , such as a metal or a magnetic material.
  • the magnitude of a change in inductance generated when the aerosol-generating article is inserted into the accommodation space of the aerosol-generating device 20 may vary depending on the type or amount of the material included in an aerosol-generating article. Accordingly, a threshold may be preset based on the type of aerosol-generating article. As such, in a primary determination process using the inductive sensor, not only insertion of an aerosol-generating article, but also authenticity of an aerosol-generating article and/or the type of an aerosol-generating article may be identified.
  • the controller 240 may determine that the inserted aerosol-generating article is not genuine and notify a user that a genuine aerosol-generating article has to be inserted into the accommodation space.
  • the present disclosure is not limited thereto. Because the change in inductance of the magnitude not exceeding the threshold may be also caused by an external factor such as a magnet, a different notification may be provided. Notification may be provided through a user interface.
  • the controller 240 may apply a current to the induction coil 230 to start heating of the susceptor 220 .
  • the aerosol-generating device 20 may immediately start a heating operation when insertion of the aerosol-generating article is detected through the primary determination process using the inductive sensor 210 . Accordingly, a temperature of the susceptor 220 may be rapidly increased up to a temperature at which an aerosol is generated in the aerosol-generating article. In other words, the reactivity of the aerosol-generating device 20 may be increased.
  • the controller 240 may measure a frequency response of a coupling circuit formed by applying a current to the induction coil 230 and determine whether to continue to heat the susceptor 220 based on the measured frequency response.
  • the controller 240 may measure a change in intensity of a current applied to the induction coil 230 while changing a drive frequency of the battery within a preset frequency scan range, and may determine whether or not to continue to heat the susceptor 220 based on the change in intensity of the measured current.
  • a method of measuring a frequency response and determining whether to continue to heat the susceptor 220 based on the measured frequency response will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 3 to 5 .
  • FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a process of measuring a frequency response by using the aerosol-generating device according to the example embodiment.
  • FIG. 3 an example of a frequency response of a coupling circuit is illustrated.
  • inductive coupling may be formed between a susceptor and the induction coil, and thus, a coupling circuit including the susceptor and the induction coil may be formed.
  • the frequency response may represent a change in electrical characteristics according to a drive frequency of the coupling circuit.
  • the frequency response is a function of the drive frequency of a battery that applies power to the induction coil and may represent a change in intensity of a current applied to the induction coil.
  • a controller may measure the frequency response while changing the drive frequency of the battery within a preset frequency scan range.
  • the preset frequency scan range may be from f 1 to f 2 .
  • the controller may determine a resonance frequency (for example, f r of FIG. 3 ) of the coupling circuit by measuring a frequency response corresponding to the preset frequency scan range.
  • a current or a voltage may be largest when the resonance frequency of the coupling circuit matches the drive frequency of the battery.
  • the controller may determine the drive frequency of the battery that causes the intensity of a current flowing though the induction coil to reach its peak, as the resonance frequency of the coupling circuit.
  • the controller may adjust the drive frequency of the battery to a resonance frequency of the coupling circuit or a frequency adjacent to the resonance frequency to obtain optimal heat efficiency.
  • the controller may determine whether an aerosol-generating article is inserted based on the frequency response of the coupling circuit.
  • FIGS. 4 and 5 are diagrams illustrating a method of determining whether or not an aerosol-generating article is inserted or identifying the type of aerosol-generating article based on a frequency response by using the aerosol-generating device according to the example embodiment.
  • first frequency response 410 and a second frequency response 420 are illustrated.
  • the first frequency response 410 may be measured while an aerosol-generating article is inserted into an accommodation space of the aerosol-generating device
  • the second frequency response 420 may be measured while the accommodation space of the aerosol-generating device is empty.
  • the first frequency response 410 may have a smaller peak current value than the second frequency response 420 .
  • a resonance frequency f r1 of the first frequency response 410 may have a value lower than a resonance frequency f r2 of the second frequency response 420 .
  • the first frequency pattern 410 may have a shape similar to the second frequency pattern 420 that is shifted to the left within a frequency scan range f 1 to f 2 . That is, a frequency response may change depending on whether the aerosol-generating article is inserted into the accommodation space of the aerosol-generating device, and thus, a controller (for example, the controller 240 of FIG. 2 ) may determine whether the aerosol-generating article is inserted based on the frequency response.
  • FIG. 5 illustrates a table representing the intensity of a current according to different drive frequencies when an aerosol-generating article (for example, a cigarette) is inserted into the accommodation space of the aerosol-generating device and when the aerosol-generating article is not inserted.
  • an aerosol-generating article for example, a cigarette
  • a drive frequency is 124 kHz when the intensity of the current is greatest. Accordingly, it can be seen that a resonance frequency of a coupling circuit is 124 kHz when the aerosol-generating article is inserted into the accommodation space.
  • the drive frequency is 150 kHz when the intensity of the current is the greatest. Accordingly, it can be seen that the resonance frequency of the coupling circuit is 150 kHz when the aerosol-generating article is not inserted into the accommodation space.
  • the resonance frequency of the coupling circuit changes depending on whether the aerosol-generating article is inserted into the accommodation space of the aerosol-generating device, and thus, a controller (for example, the controller 240 in FIG. 2 ) may determine whether an aerosol-generating article is inserted based on the resonance frequency of the coupling circuit.
  • the resonance frequency of the coupling circuit is 124 kHz when the aerosol-generating article used in the example FIG. 5 is inserted
  • the resonance frequency of the same coupling circuit may have a different value when another type of aerosol-generating article is inserted into the accommodation space. That is, the resonance frequency of the coupling circuit may differ depending on the type of aerosol-generating article, and thus, the controller may also identify the type of aerosol-generating article based on the resonance frequency of the coupling circuit. To this end, information about a resonance frequency corresponding to the type of aerosol-generating article may be previously stored in the aerosol-generating device. Alternatively, the aerosol-generating device may obtain such information in real time via wireless communication.
  • the controller 240 may stop heating the susceptor 220 when a difference (e.g., a difference in the resonance frequency or the peak current value) between the first frequency response and the second frequency response is within an error range. This is because a small difference within an error range between the first frequency pattern and the second frequency pattern may occur even if the aerosol-generating article is not inserted into the accommodation space of the aerosol-generating device 20 .
  • the controller 240 may determine that there is an error in the primarily determining process in which whether the aerosol-generating article is inserted is determined by using the inductive sensor, and may stop the heating operation that has been initiated according to the primarily determining process.
  • the aerosol-generating device 20 may double check whether the aerosol-generating article is inserted, through a secondary determination process using a frequency response of a coupling circuit.
  • the aerosol-generating device 20 may stop a heating operation when it is determined that the aerosol-generating article is not inserted into an accommodation space as a result of the secondary determination process. Accordingly, even when there is an error in the primary determination process, an abnormal heating operation of the aerosol-generating device 20 may be prevented through the second determination process, and thus, the safety of the aerosol-generating device 20 may be improved.
  • the controller 240 may continue to heat the susceptor.
  • the second frequency response may be previously stored in the aerosol-generating device 20 , but the present disclosure is not limited thereto.
  • the second frequency response may be measured in real time by the aerosol-generating device 20 .
  • the controller 240 may determine the resonance frequency of the coupling circuit based on a change in intensity of the measured current and may identify the type of aerosol-generating article based on the determined resonance frequency. Even when the first frequency response and the second frequency response have the difference exceeding the error range, in a case where it is determined that the identified type of aerosol-generating article is different from the type of aerosol-generating article stored in the aerosol-generating device 20 , the controller 240 may stop heating the susceptor.
  • the type of aerosol-generating article stored in the aerosol-generating device 20 may represent a dedicated aerosol-generating article for the aerosol-generating device 20 .
  • the controller 240 may notify a user that the dedicated aerosol-generating article has to be inserted into the accommodation space. Notification may be provided through a user interface.
  • the aerosol-generating device 20 may identify not only whether an aerosol-generating article is inserted but also the type of aerosol-generating article in each of the primary determination process and the secondary determination process. Accordingly, even when an aerosol-generating article is inserted into an accommodation space of the aerosol-generating device 20 , in a case where the inserted aerosol-generating article does not correspond to a dedicated aerosol-generating article, a heating operation of the aerosol-generating device 20 may be prevented. Accordingly, use of unauthentic or incompatible aerosol-generating articles may be prevented.
  • FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a method of operating an aerosol-generating device, according to an example embodiment.
  • a method of operating an aerosol-generating device includes steps that are time-sequentially processed by the aerosol-generating device 10 or the aerosol-generating device 20 illustrated in FIG. 1 or FIG. 2 . Accordingly, although omitted below, it can be seen that the details described above with respect to the aerosol-generating device 10 or the aerosol-generating device 20 of FIG. 1 or FIG. 2 may also be applied to the method of operating the aerosol-generating device illustrated in FIG. 6 .
  • an aerosol-generating device may determine whether an aerosol-generating article is inserted into an accommodation space of the aerosol-generating device based on a change in inductance detected by an inductive sensor. For example, the aerosol-generating device may determine that the aerosol-generating article is inserted into the accommodation space when a magnitude of a change in inductance detected by the inductive sensor exceeds a threshold. The threshold may be preset based on the type of aerosol-generating article.
  • the aerosol-generating device may notify a user that a dedicated aerosol-generating article has to be inserted into the accommodation space.
  • the aerosol-generating device may apply a current to the induction coil to start heating the susceptor. Heating of the susceptor may be for smoking of the user using the aerosol-generating device.
  • the aerosol-generating device may measure a frequency response of a coupling circuit formed by the current flowing through the induction coil. For example, the aerosol-generating device may measure a change in intensity of the current applied to the induction coil while changing a drive frequency of a battery that supplies power to the induction coil within a preset frequency scan range.
  • the aerosol-generating device may determine whether to continue to heat the susceptor based on the measured frequency response. For example, the aerosol-generating device may determine whether to continue to heat the susceptor based on a change in intensity of the measured current while changing the drive frequency of the battery within the preset frequency scan range.
  • the aerosol-generating device may stop heating the susceptor.
  • the aerosol-generating device may continue to heat the susceptor.
  • the first frequency response may correspond to the frequency response measured while the aerosol-generating article is placed in the accommodation space
  • the second frequency response may correspond to the frequency response measured while the aerosol-generating article is not inserted into the accommodation space.
  • the second frequency response may be pre-stored in the aerosol-generating device.
  • the aerosol-generating device may determine a resonance frequency of the coupling circuit based on the change in intensity of the measured current and may identify the type of aerosol-generating article based on the determined resonance frequency. Even when the first frequency response and the second frequency response have the difference that exceeds the error range, in a case where it is determined that the type of aerosol-generating article is different from the type of aerosol-generating article stored in the aerosol-generating device, the aerosol-generating device may stop heating the susceptor. When it is determined that the type of aerosol-generating article is different from the type of aerosol-generating article stored in the aerosol-generating device, the aerosol-generating device may notify that a dedicated aerosol-generating article has to be inserted thereinto.
  • One embodiment may also be implemented in the form of a computer-readable recording medium including instructions executable by a computer, such as a program module executable by the computer.
  • the computer-readable recording medium may be any available medium that may be accessed by a computer and includes both volatile and nonvolatile media, and removable and non-removable media.
  • the computer-readable recording medium may include both a computer storage medium and a communication medium.
  • the computer storage medium includes all of volatile and nonvolatile, and removable and non-removable media implemented by any method or technology for storage of information such as computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data.
  • the communication medium typically includes computer-readable instructions, data structures, other data in modulated data signals such as program modules, or other transmission mechanisms, and includes any information transfer media.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Electromagnetism (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Human Computer Interaction (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Induction Heating (AREA)
US17/801,171 2020-08-19 2021-06-29 Aerosol-generating device for detecting insertion of aerosol-generating article and method of operating the same Pending US20230097359A1 (en)

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KR1020200104104A KR102502754B1 (ko) 2020-08-19 2020-08-19 에어로졸 생성 물품의 삽입 여부를 감지하는 에어로졸 생성 장치 및 그의 동작 방법
KR10-2020-0104104 2020-08-19
PCT/KR2021/008148 WO2022039378A1 (fr) 2020-08-19 2021-06-29 Dispositif de génération d'aérosol pour détecter l'insertion d'un article de génération d'aérosol et son procédé de fonctionnement

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WO2023208803A1 (fr) * 2022-04-27 2023-11-02 Jt International Sa Dispositif de génération d'aérosol comprenant un dispositif de chauffage par induction
WO2023224314A1 (fr) * 2022-05-17 2023-11-23 Kt&G Corporation Dispositif de production d'aérosol
WO2024049257A1 (fr) * 2022-08-31 2024-03-07 주식회사 케이티앤지 Dispositif de génération d'aérosol

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TWI697289B (zh) * 2014-05-21 2020-07-01 瑞士商菲利浦莫里斯製品股份有限公司 氣溶膠形成製品、電熱氣溶膠產生裝置及系統、及操作該系統之方法
CN105407750B (zh) * 2014-05-21 2018-06-26 菲利普莫里斯生产公司 具有多材料感受器的成烟制品
US11832369B2 (en) 2014-05-21 2023-11-28 Philip Morris Products S.A. Aerosol-generating article with internal susceptor
GB201705206D0 (en) * 2017-03-31 2017-05-17 British American Tobacco Investments Ltd Apparatus for a resonance circuit
GB201705208D0 (en) * 2017-03-31 2017-05-17 British American Tobacco Investments Ltd Temperature determination
US10750787B2 (en) * 2018-01-03 2020-08-25 Cqens Technologies Inc. Heat-not-burn device and method
EP3826496A1 (fr) * 2018-07-26 2021-06-02 JT International SA Dispositif et système de génération d'aérosol
GB201814198D0 (en) * 2018-08-31 2018-10-17 Nicoventures Trading Ltd Apparatus for an aerosol generating device
BR112021005003A2 (pt) 2018-09-25 2021-06-08 Philip Morris Products S.A. conjunto de aquecimento e método para aquecer indutivamente um substrato formador de aerossol
KR102267000B1 (ko) 2018-11-23 2021-06-18 주식회사 케이티앤지 에어로졸 생성 장치 및 그 동작 방법

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EP4087427A4 (fr) 2023-07-12
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EP4087427A1 (fr) 2022-11-16
JP7394234B2 (ja) 2023-12-07
KR20220022757A (ko) 2022-02-28
JP2023516937A (ja) 2023-04-21

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